Racines Festival is a landmark event in the world of graffiti and street art. It is the realisation of a dream by artist Fouad Hachmi (HMI), deeply attached to his roots.
HMI arrived in Evere at the age of 10. Painting and drawing had been in his blood since early childhood. He grew up in a happy, cosmopolitan neighbourhood, somewhat removed from the city’s hustle. In 1983 the emerging Hip Hop culture hit the young people hard, especially through breakdancing and smurfing. The music and movement shaped the teenager who would become HMI. At 14 to 15 he discovered graffiti.
What he loves most about a mural is working with four or five artists from different worlds, creating harmony together, a human and artistic encounter.
All these experiences planted a seed of ambition. The result is Racines Festival: ten days that bring together artists from around the world, with their varied paths, stories and trajectories. With a hand on his heart and a smile, remembering his first tag in the Platon neighbourhood, HMI is happy to gather all the roots that form part of his history, right where it all began.
The festival’s vision is simple: to honour the human network and the intertwined roots that underpin graffiti and street art. To celebrate the richness and beauty of its ramifications, while paying proper tribute to the origins of the movement, the “roots”, and to those who opened the way.
Here is my collection so far
Veneno l’homme qui chuchote à l’oreille de la hyène
Razor sharp linework, cross hatched like an engraving, with contrast that hits different in person. This gable wall mural by Veneno is one of the standout pieces linked to Racines Festival in Evere.
Veneno is known for powerful black and white works built around wild and humanized animals. Her style was shaped by years spent in Mexico, where she worked closely with engraving collectives. A member of the Belgian CNN199 crew, she blends the raw energy of graffiti with the precision of engraving.
This piece forms part of her Black Lines series.
A roaring blue dinosaur bursts out of the wall in full colour and wildstyle letters. This large mural by Belgian artist Smok was painted during the second edition of Racines Festival.
Smok (Bart Boudewijns) was born in Antwerp in 1972 and started writing graffiti in 1986. After a long break he returned to the walls in 2013. He works mainly with spray cans and creates playful, high energy pieces that often feature animals and characters full of life. His goal is to make people smile or think about nature and social awareness.
Yann Lazoo Graffenstein
A vivid mad science laboratory comes to life on the wall. Scientists, bubbling equipment and a giant purple Frankenstein head fill the scene in bold purple and green tones. The piece is titled Graffenstein, Prométhée du Street Art.
Yann Lazoo is a French artist born in Paris in 1969 and a member of the Parisian collective MAC. Strongly inspired by comics and 1980s New York graffiti, he is known for colorful figurative work full of energy and character.
Un Zorro en Evere by HMI
That stare stops you mid walk. Painted fur that moves like flame across brick arches, split into panels but reading as one continuous gaze. Found just steps from home in the park next to the place.
This large fox mural is by HMI (Fouad Hachmi), the Evere based artist and founder of Racines Festival. A member of the CNN199 crew, HMI has been active in the Brussels graffiti and street art scene for decades and is known for strong figurative work that often connects to local roots and public space.
A striking female face with flowing turquoise hair and deep purple tones wraps around the corner of a dark brick building. Wildstyle lettering in pink, blue and silver frames the portrait. Painted by HMI during the first Racines Festival in 2022
HMI Roaring Dogs
A fierce golden dog head roars across the black garage doors, teeth bared and eyes locked forward. The side wall carries the tags EVERE 2022 RACINES
Urban Jungle in Stone Arches by HMi CNN
Found this piece of street art where brick and stone meet a painted rainforest. Love how the arches frame the scene
Submerged Serenity
A dreamlike underwater scene where a calm face drifts among bubbles, fish and flowing colors. The mural was created by Remix_2r and Dirtysix6 during the Racines Festival graffiti jam, with the theme The Sea. Remix_2r, based in Brussels is a frequent collaborator (they have done several walls together, including the Racines Festival piece and Meeting of Styles).
Dirtysix6 is a French graffiti artist based in Lille who has been painting characters for over twenty years.
Roger Rabbit by CASTAR
A wild and colorful Roger Rabbit mural full of bold drips, layered colors and animated energy. Painted by CASTAR for Racines Festival 2024.
A dynamic mural packed with cartoon energy, glowing eyes, sharp claws and electric colors under a bold CASTAR throw up
CASTAR is a Brussels based graffiti artist and the founder of CityJam. He is also the initiator of Castarwall in Anderlecht, the largest open air free expression wall in Belgium.
Derm Bad Taste
A large turquoise alligator character in military gear lounges against the wall, cigarette in mouth and heavy weapon in hand. Bold lettering reads DERM BADTASTE and KILLER VOICES.
Street Art Gone Carnivorous
Feel the Spark
A long blue brick wall covered in colorful wildstyle lettering, with two large hands reaching toward each other and a bright energy spark between them. Tags and pieces run the full length, including a door marked 7773 RACINES
Zepha Calligraphic Vortex
A massive swirling composition of abstract calligraphy in deep purple, red and blue wraps around the corner of the building, creating a hypnotic vortex of letterforms and geometric flow. Photographed by Vincent Vanderveken.
Zepha (Vincent Abadie Hafez) is a French artist based near Toulouse. Active in graffiti since 1989, he is known for blending traditional calligraphy with urban lettering. Website: vincentabadiehafez.com
Witloof by MRBEE
large bee tends to a chicory plant on the wall. The piece celebrates witloof, the white gold of the Brussels region that was extensively grown in Evere from around 1830 until urbanization changed the landscape. Dedicated to the inhabitants of the Lauriers Roses district.
MRBEE is a Belgian street artist. Instagram: @mrbeebzzz
Tower 6
title
- Rue H. Van Hamme 38 – Archery Club
- Rue W. Van Perck 69
- Allée de Provence 9639 – Courtyard
- Rue E. Degas 6 – Tour Degas 6
- Avenue des Anciens Combattants 365 – Palisade
- Avenue des Anciens Combattants 300 – Sports Complex
- Avenue des Anciens Combattants 250 – Scouts Local
- Rue de Paris 70
- Intersection Rue de Zaventem and Avenue Jules Bordet
- Rue de Zaventem 60 – Home Roger Descamps
- Clos des Lauriers Roses 101
- Avenue Cicéron 20
- Rue Edouard Stuckens 125
All locations are in 1140 Evere, Brussels.
This is just the beginning of the collection. More murals from Racines Festival will be added as the archive grows.
The third edition, titled Animals, is expected in Evere in early September 2026, with activities planned from around 5 September onward.
Stay tuned.
Internationnal : Al Pacman (France), Amin Brush (Maroc), CEET (France / Hong Kong), EKO LSA (La Réunion), Madzoo (Sénégal), OTM (Maroc), sitou (France), Sophi ODLING (Australie), Swalt (Suisse), Veneno (France)
Belgique : CASTAR, Cimon, Defo, DZIA, ERES, EWOC, FARMPROD, H5D, HMI, IOTA, LOCATELLI, LUCILE & TRAMA, Madame la belge, MAGIC WIZARD, NEAN, Pippilota, PSOMAN, Samuel IDMTAL, SHIVA, Size 44, SMOK, STRANGE bird, TARANTINO, WOUF